West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-07-28
LAUREL CAMP.

"Oh, boys how wish were going
with your aud dainty Bess Fleming
perched herself discoGsolatcly on the arm,
oil the lounge In what her brothers called
their 'boudoir,' and gazed with biz
wlstiul gray eyes on the animated scene
before her
The festive preparations are indeed al
most enough TO make one wish one had
been born boy. Floor, chairs and
table arc covered with a choice but
varied collection of hunting boots. fish
ing tackle, entomologists paraphernalia
OF waXen headed pins, chloroform bot
ties, and butterfly nets, favorite autiors
hammocks, and other evidences of a
right royal good time" The masculine
occupants of the room were all so very
deeply engrossed, that their envious sis
ter's plaintiye wish fell on almost nm
needing ears
Hal muttered "W-wish YOU couldi, F.,
Tom gazed at her through the micro
seope-glass he was polishing, with am eve
enormously enlarged thereby, and smiled
IN conscious masculine superiority: and
only good-natured Steenie paused in his
struggles with his knapsack (Which
seemingly declined to accommodate his
blanket, work on anatomy, "A gossamer
coat and dismembered gunJ Sufficiently y
long TO say with genuine brotherly good
will.
"And you should 90 in minute Pom
plty-it would be worth ten seaside sea.
sons to you-if il were not for Val
Graham"
"Val Grahaml Who is he2 Let him
stay at home, then. To make coffee in
dear little Kettle swung on three esticks.
TO sleep In a hammock, and be out doors
all summerp cries Miss FLEMING en-
thusIastically. "Oh, viii gol What's
the matter with Mr.. Graham Is he one
of your fossilized professors who w,nId
petriiy simple maidcnl i don't care
%hat ne IS, you need not imagine would
hnd time even TO look at him. II nnoo-
unanimously won't mind him "A bit
''But, b-b-blcss you, my child - eiacu
lated Hal, energetically, 'it'snot a oucs
ton of whether you would gj8d Val
The boot Is on the other LEG. It's Vnl
would mind you. There's some romantic
story about his being brought up by an
uncle who had been cruelty treated bv
some lovely flirt Youthful affections
trampled on, and all that kind of thinU
Takes to the life OF a hermit, and edu-
Gates the ingenious Valentine to regard
with horror the whole female sex. Val
would sooner face a 'wcnomOus wiper'
than woman, and am confident that
IL he suspected we meditated such treason
as the introduction of the dreaded elo
ment, he would flee to the uttermost
parts OF the earth rather than 90 with Ms
ana ne the prime suggester of the camp
ing scbeme, tool Lastly, and finally, how
cOuld such a luxurious little lady rouob
IL with lot of boys among the iunplcs
OF New York State? It's impossible 5
On, you can say impossible; but l
could go, and you would take me. If II
were not for that odious creaturel How
hate him !" cries Bess, stornily.
ga letter for you, Mr.. Stepben - and
the dignified butler steps solemnly over
the debris, and looks with stern disap-
proval at the disordercd room.
"From Val himself, is it not, Steenie?o
asked Tom.
yes Too bad, he can't 90. after all
attack Of malarial fever knows Won
will have jolly time. almost dcsre.afe
when think Of your starting without
me, reads Steenic, disioinledlv.
Now am going" and Bess starts up
impetuOusly
How Gun You 2"
You'll see. I'll take Martha TO take
care of me. III be ready in an hour. Mar
tina and her budgets included. " and Bess
vanished like a small whirlwind. leaving
the trio too much astonished TO do aupht
butstare at each other in silence.
DID she accomplish it, OF corrsc
what other result was possible 10 so
much energy and spirit BY the time
the others had finished their remarkable
masculine packing, Bcss, bubblinp over
with merry anticipation, was SOOTHING
the dazed Martha, who was vibrating
between a feeling Of gipsyish delight at
what seemed TO her "a mad cscapadc
and gloomy presentimcnts of inevitable
rheumatism
These shifts 70 cho wllds Of the
Empire state and a camp established i'm
their depths This is no mere fashionable
tabernacle in the Wilderness. but roaI
camp. with amateur cooks. with spicy
hemlock beds and with smoke black
ened kettle swinging ovra swapping fire.
the smoke of which curls lazily upward.
making misty the delicate trlccry of the
waving trees against The soft summer sltv.
ana hAmmocks swinging like huge CO.
eoons between the trees, inviting to
drowsy ropose
- wv NHAtAH .HfNHN taII NIINn'''.fl mountain
brook iumbles IFS ico cold water into
the rocky river, and the two sing to-
gethcr in low monotone. telling of fern
fringcd pools and gliding trout Through
afchway. cut in the glossy laurc lhickct
can be seen the paths that the feet of tho
hrayiug clmTcu have alrcrdv worn to
Che woodland hauuts beyond
Bot ihc glory OF tho camp is the strue-
ture variouaiy known as tho "house
'shaniy or 'Iadrsi Lodge" Built
against little knoll iis supports living
trees iis roof of slabs (Which the busy
littIo river obligingiy arews along SIS
banks from lumber regions further north
SLOPES almost io fhc ground go the back
iis sides are d thickly woven mat Of hem
Jock boughs. held in place by horizontal
boards The facade of thc Building Dre.
aents a portal Of magnificent proportions
from which the g9rfiers OF gorgeous Quilt
isarly English) Il looped aside, disclosing